The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-06-12
THE THEATREs OF PARIS.
Tho Origin and strange Customs OF Some
French Piayhouses.

LONDON, June 2.--The inevitable catas-
trophe which has overtaken xhe ill-starred
Opera ComiQue in Paris, alnsst at the very
moment when provisions were contemplated
that might have given 1t comparative i'm
munity from fire, has added In measure to
tho interest attached at the present time to all
things theatrical, an interest which gives the
stage such paramount importance. Two or
three new theatres are projected for theatre
ridden London, and o revolutionary II tardy
movement OF progress tending to insure
safety and security. will for the first time In
the annals Of theatrical enterprise seek other
sites than those afforded by the oramped and
often subterranean areas OF the Strand, the
one thoroughfare which has successfully but
unaccountably retained the monopoly ofpearly
every theatre.
1t cannot be denied that, so far as the internal
arrangements Of English theatres are con-
cerned. they are superior to the French; but,
with few and unimportant exceptions posi-
sfy Ss e
SS G lad hat II Pals these eonaitions nave. e
most
ssys Sssn bsssass r. az pisss:, - s ,Ssss
faS Pau WE %Sen that oaoe sshionsbls game
III nso 81
easy and economical, Suitable SALES were like
wise found IN some Of the mostimp9rtant habi.
ssi se Hail y ssfass Fae
MSsfio " sae I'm a.
witch became the Ant opera house: $3.50,
h s. S n IL sfa
hsh nar BY w tss a. shs
and establshed-the FranSas, at st. Germain
los Pres the opera o. tho Palsis Royn!. and
saesn at ct ss
ssf ssSSs sr
s. sls iS SSsSa
for the Ita{ isns, opsned on the Place Boleldleu
snd turned its back on the great thorouRhiare
as VI Tas sSoi
sys PpDSss'oa Be SS bSu L:
S0%sds 5s s Ss as Snss' s
Owing 70 the cor orsinai architssture and plans
m ments Of i most Of these houses was conducive
neither to tho comfort Of audience nor act99r,
nor to any sdsaVSte scenic Ssof ero av aaf hs
sie a.s and we're So 7nconyenient that tho parti.
peep q tie stage. Nons q the boxes hsd
tons eonsstsd 81 Tiers Of benchss At one end
%oysd on
Is still the case to this day In some Provincial
Italian theatres. and this made 1t available for
s @sn datss the % IN
oldest established theatres IN Paris: Of exelHd-
and abusive habit was that Of permitting three
rows Of benches to 30 placed on the stage i,
occupation OF the fastest, most rowdy mon OF
even wransisd at the top Of their voices, utter
borIoasiy going .hrorsh their parts
Although cases OF confaGration were not
rsd with 81
%ode # tns w sna asIssay By
verbal. and many who cared nothing for music
came to see those men whip on the charrod
chandeliers, holding WAX candles. In front OF
WSrs nsSoduao The Tst Central ehand"er
ever seen was inaugurat9d at the 0deon; It
sSa % nnd
From Mai nnov% ~ dated
aally falling from the lamps above 30 that the
m main d uneccapied and were strictly avoided
by the audience TO an the depressing vacuum
.s n to S IS aw tSe% ad psr
1ss 1sf teal acss
privileged thoatres, the lator and minor ones
s splisssson f' the wa isr Instance
o ON ihe ;u snd wea s mans
perlng Law, was relaxed and even dispensed
with, u slackened rope still crossed the orehes-
ana origin OF the house At the Opera Uomique
the performers were to be mute, first , one.
comrades remaining dumb. In some theatres
none but n'drionnestcs wore alIowedi IN others
a a ths sHshs Was
riol on by labels, The yers9s which should
icmned mover to lit their voices. were written
In large letters on wooden boards, dropped
the audience read and sung them instead OF
the performers they came 70 see.
absolute dn srssa sm % os TIE
dress. the frequent interpeations from the
esfs 1oG tRos
who now find fault even with the superlatiye
and often exaggerated splendoE In the nc mount Y
hoistcred boxes, II ia useless TO refer 20 these
sroiSSSs ii IN tS ii art Which deshcd our
lurctAthers. but 1t Is from tEht nenury Of orna-
men;u'ion. from tina; utter and as5olnto dis,
regard ut MI secondary surroundings that
dates g custom which IL st faithfully OBJ
served at the Coincide, Francaise side by side
with the present absolute pori@egtion and cor;
Racine or oorneile il given, tho Ave. acts arc
Invariably acted without the curtain being
a minute or two; then the actors return and
the classical play goes on, The principle OF the
unities could not he mora conscientiously hon
orcd: but In how many OF our modern dramas,
with their abrupt changes from land t9 land
and ipnGthogoa Intervals Of years, could tho
curtain rise but ones on their fourteen tab
lcnuNy NJ. oES,